The Hatchery, that cool antique mall/junk shop, has closed. Dozens of code violations, complaints from neighbors and a general drive to eliminate public eyesores did it in. The building is to be demolished within the month, and in truth it's not a minute too soon. Any longer and it would have blown over.

Pity, it was one of my favorite places to visit, and I bought quite a few things there. No need to add patina, the stuff in that place already had plenty.

All that's left are a few things in the yard - not actually free for the taking but "75% off" The owner still lives in a camper on the property and will come out to sell things to you if you call the number on the front door. I was tempted to pick up a few things - milk crates are always handy, a nice pile of firewood, bits of old furniture to practice refinishing, but I really don't have room for any of it.

Perhaps that's for the best.

Is this the place you posted about as a real find when you first moved to Cleveland?

You can turn those tires into planters....

quote:

Originally posted by wtg:
You can turn those tires into planters....

Clever!

quote:

Originally posted by wtg:
Is this the place you posted about as a real find when you first moved to Cleveland?

Yes.

There's another place like it up the street except this one is a greenhouse. It's a big greenhouse, too, and I'm told it was one of the largest and most prosperous around in the '60's.

The son inherited it and is trying to make a go of it but it's clearly more than he can handle. He tries to keep it up and even brings in new plants every year but most of the buildings are filled with old stock - pot bound, choked with weeds, dying or dead. I've never seen anything like it.

I like buying there though - the owner is a really nice guy, knows everyone and knows a lot about plants. Can't beat the prices either - decent hanging flower baskets for $13, veg seedlings 3 for $1.50, (Lowes gets $5 each), annuals $13 per flat. I bought a baker's dozen of nice lavender plugs for 75 cents each! If you can't plant the plugs right away he'll give you plastic pots to put them in - he has thousands.

I've even had luck with some of the old stock - pull out the weeds, rough up the roots, stick 'em in the ground. Last year I bought several individual plants I was not familiar with for like $1 each just to see how they grow and all but one of them rooted just fine and came back this year at twice the size!

He says he grows his plants "slow and cold" (the greenhouse does not appear to be heated) which make them tough! I don't know about that but if a plant can survive in that place I will probably survive anywhere!

quote:

if a plant can survive in that place I will probably survive anywhere!

that's the ad copy right there!!

We are in serious danger of losing wonderful places like these, only to be replaced by soulless big boxes.

Our fridge died last night and at 18 years old I’m loathe to put any more into it. So we went to Lee and Jack’s appliances in Batavia. Jeff there knows appliances and had exactly what we wanted and needed in a difficult space situation. We will have a new fridge installed Tuesday. You can’t beat that.

Expertise and service. That is what we will lose.

The school across the street from us installed tire planters. Painted solid colors but no creativity. If it looks like a tire it is not an aesthetic enhancement.

I have a gardening book that gives detailed instructions on how to cut a tire and turn it inside out to make one of those planters.